Medical and Health Program

Medical and Health Program:

With socio-economic development in India, a lot of new health clinics and hospitals are opening to address the chronic shortfall of medical care in India. Many medical colleges and has started producing more medical graduates. Today, the healthcare system in India is developing and there are facilities and funds available for medical research. Despite gaining a reputation as one of the fastest growing countries in the world, financial inequalities and lack of healthcare access is widespread in India.

Opportunities to Engage / Support:

Volunteers are welcome to participate in various fields of work – Public Health; Food, Nutrition and Preventive Healthcare Workshops; Mother and Child health, Adolescent health;etc. Our volunteers will work with local doctors. Volunteers working in the field of healthcare can be of tremendous value to local staff and medical facilities. Volunteers work in hospitals, small clinics, elderly homes, orphanages, mobile camps, child care hospitals and mobile camps to assist the staff in the treatment of patients. They can educate and guide these disadvantaged people about sanitation, hygiene, nutrition and provide first aid to people with small injuries. Equipment is basic but all staff and most locals have a good grasp of English. In addition to general clinic work, volunteers will also perform a number of home visits with the local staff.

Please note only medical specialisatiion professional volunteers will be allowed to treat patients. Medical students will not be allowed to treat patients. They will only be allowed to shadow local doctors and learn from them gaining valuable experience of working in a developing country that is full of fascinating contradiction..

Volunteers will work mostly in the morning and start at around 9 am for about 4 hours. Job responsibilities for Medical and Health Program / project volunteers/interns in India vary dependent on education, skills, experience and qualifications and on the community’s current needs. Volunteers/Interns are not permitted to perform major exams or surgeries and they will mostly observe and learn from local doctors. Most often volunteers help doctors or work as their assistants. As a medical volunteer in India, you could be placed in a large hospital or small rural health center. Most of the hospitals (regardless of size) have many departments: Emergency, Gynecology, Pediatrics, Gastroenterology, Infectious Diseases, Hematology, Endocrinology, Oncology, Internal Medicine, Clinical Pathology, etc. so a volunteer may be placed in any department, but skills/qualifications will also be considered. Volunteers may also take patients’ vitals: blood pressure, temperature, height and weight, and carry out health center tasks. You may provide treatment for minor injuries or wounds and document patient records. The tasks and activities vary day by day.